JACK WALLACE BAKER

Jack Wallace Baker, 90, of Navasota, passed away Saturday, October 19, at the Waterford in College Station. Visitation with family and friends will be Friday, October 25, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Nobles Funeral Chapel. A graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 26, at Oakland Cemetery in Navasota. Arrangements are under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.

Jack was born November 30, 1929 to Mattie Evans and Henry C. Baker in Navasota, Texas. Jack attended and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Agricultural Engineering and upon graduation, he reported for duty in the United States Army. After a tour of duty stationed in the south of France where he was wounded by a flying champagne cork, he returned to Navasota and the insurance and real estate business with his father, Henry and brother-in-law, Elliot Goodwin.

On April 10, 1954, he married Jacquelyn “Jackie” Venable and together they made a home and raised a large family in Navasota.

Jack was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge and enjoyed relaying that he had been a Master Mason for “more than fifty years.” He cherished his right to vote and was active in our democracy. For several years, he served as the Grimes County Democratic party chair. After selling his business with Elliot Goodwin, he went into the banking business at Security State Bank and then a contract landman for several different oil and gas companies.

Jack was an avid outdoors-man and loved to hunt. For those that knew Jack, you know exactly what that last sentence means.

Jack and Jackie were faithful attendees of the First Presbyterian Church in Navasota. Jack’s kindness was exposed through Jackie, his beloved wife of sixty-two years. Together they were “Jack & Jackie” where you saw one, you saw the other.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife and his beautiful daughter Ruth Ann. He is survived by his children, Cindy Baker of Navasota, Susan Pascoe of Austin, Dr. John H. Baker and his wife Emily of Carrollton and Rosemary Upcheshaw and her husband Gigitt of Houston. He is also survived by his ten grandchildren; Henry, James and John Pascoe, Rachel, Erin, Jesse and Evan Baker and Jessica, Zachary and Jackson Upcheshaw, along with two g reat-grandchildren, Miles and Eliot Schauman.

Jack had a quick laugh; nobody enjoyed a joke at someone else’s expense more than he did. He loved a good practical joke. Jack Baker could be sharp; there is no way around it. However, underneath that coarseness was a kindness and concern for his community and a love for his family.

You are invited to leave kind words and fond memories at www.noblesfuneral.com.